Overview Hoffer seeks to explain why mass movements happen. First he talks about different personality types, and why each is drawn to a movement. For example, people who join fanatical mass movements often feel their lives are useless or wasted. They latch onto a movement because it makes them feel that they have purpose, that … Read more
What is Priming? The world is full of many types of sensory input. For example, hundreds of cars are all around when we drive on the free way. Humans have to sort through all this input every second, and decide what is relevant. The person driving consistently in front of you won’t grab your brain’s … Read more
At their core, all attention techniques are promises. You are promising to share something of value, if they trade their attention. The key is to match your promise to something people are interested in, something they want. For example, a promise to share what happened at work is going to be more interesting to your … Read more
One of the important elements of establishing control is keeping people reacting to you. If they are always reacting to you, it will be hard for them to control anything. Method 1: Surprise The first method of control is to be subversive, surprising, and unexpected. You can learn more about attention in conversations, here, or … Read more
How Can I Use Method Acting In Real Life? Elements of acting can be useful in real life. Specifically, acting helps you become a version of yourself that is most likely to succeed in the situation you find yourself in. For example, you might be more introverted, but for your career you need to be … Read more
The Socratic Method by Farnsworth is a book that takes you deeper into the story and techniques of Socrates. It covers the way Socrates asked questions, the possible history and source of Socrates, and the effects of Socrates. It draws and analyzes methods of questioning from Plato’s writings. It teaches you how to be more … Read more
Just like a lever, the right piece of information can result in large changes. Leverage in a social context refers to the the ability to use power to extract the results you want. For example, if you are a parent and you know your child likes candy, you can leverage candy to get them to … Read more
Mirroring is when one person mimics another person’s behavior. Mirroring tends to create rapport or increased liking. It is typically focused on body language, like mimicking the person’s arm or leg positions, but it can also extend to ideas and interests. This page will link to various research on mirroring, but also provide you with … Read more
Our brain, senses, and tools aren’t perfect. Understanding where they fall short can help us better navigate and strategize in our environment. They can also help us persuade stubborn people by helping them realize flaws in the processes they feel so confident in. Here are a few weaknesses every human has that you should keep … Read more
